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Demonstrating that Trump is more a low-oil-prices US president than an a foreign interventionist one.

Part of the Iran/US conflict is China wishing to buy oil in renminbi, rather than dollars, from the Iran oil industry. The decoupling of oil from the dollar-denominated markets is a nightmare of both the US and the Saudis.

Seriously: what chance Alexander de Pfeffel Johnson throws the DUP under a bus to solve the Tories’ problem with the backstop?

i.e. a NI-only backstop.

Plus-side he could say he got Brexit done, and ‘solved’ the backstop issue. He’s planning an election anyhow so he no longer needs the DUP and hopes he won’t need them in the future. The EU would be much more happy with a NI-only backstop, and perhaps be willing to give something as quid-pro-quo.

Down-side the Brexit Party runs on a ‘further enslavement to the Evil Empire, betrayal by the Tories’ ticket.

I can’t really see it happening, but you never know, and perhaps someone can con the con-man into it.

It has been talked up bigtime in the media on this side of the little pond for the last few days. But afaik not so much on the other side. Wishful thinking on the RoI government’s part?
Speculation too that the DUP could ultimately go for a variation on the NI-only backstop but with a very different name obvs.

“Down-side the Brexit Party runs on a ‘further enslavement to the Evil Empire, betrayal by the Tories’ ticket.”
Don’t think Brexit Party voters would be much-exercised by the Oirish element of any deal. Oireland doesn’t matter to them.

I think in England they’d be furious and would let everyone know it and if it for brexit through that wouldn’t change…it’s just there would be other things to focus on. Does the DUP have the base tied up to cover this as per elsewhere on this site?

The coverage of this seems a bit off-point to me. We’re hearing loads on RTE about the details of this NI-only backstop and the possibility – or not – of Johnson and the EU striking a last minute deal. But surely the issue is not what Johnson can negotiate with the EU, its what can he negotiate with Parliament.

Would the EU agree to NI-only? I cant see why not. Wasn’t that pretty much their starting position? Would they rename it and pretend it wasn’t substantially the same thing as before to save the DUP some embarrassment? Sure.

But would the DUP agree to it? Its a step backwards for them – retain EU regulations but move out of alignment with the UK.There are many good arguments for accepting, but I think they’ve gone too far into No-Surrender territory to find their way back at this stage.

And alongside their wish to play to the gallery, there are also some questions unanswered about their role in the 2016 referendum and the funding of their involvement – which would tend to suggest they have many reasons for staying in a hard-Brexit camp.

So Boris would have to get this passed without a majority, without the DUP’s votes and with an election looming? I just can’t see it.

After the election? Assuming Brexit happens, It’s pretty much inevitable – whether it comes as part of a new deal put to a People’s vote, or as part of the negotiations that follow a crashout-Brexit.

“The former Irish prime minister and joint architect of the Northern Ireland peace process Bertie Ahern has said it is imperative that any Brexit solution be acceptable to the Democratic Unionist party.
His intervention is a rare warning by a prominent politician in the Republic of Ireland that imposing a deal not supported by the DUP, such as one with a Northern-Ireland-only backstop, would imperil a lasting solution.”https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/sep/10/any-brexit-deal-must-be-acceptable-dup-bertie-ahern

“The former Irish prime minister and joint architect of the Northern Ireland peace process Bertie Ahern has said it is imperative that any Brexit solution be acceptable to the Democratic Unionist party.”

Utterly baffled by this claim, as it’s obvious that the DUP are keen on getting the hardest Brexit possible.

Unless, of course, the noble sentiments on Irish reunification around the GFA were BS, and Ahern joins MM as a partitionist FFer.

The Jig is Up on These Corporate Tax Billions for Ireland as Unfavourable OECD decision is imminent-Irish Independent
Richard Curran: ‘Time is almost up for corporate tax windfalls we grew to bank on’
Gross over Dependence on Multi Nationals https://wp.me/pKzXa-18R

Disaster!!: Corporation tax has generated huge revenues but an abrupt ‘supernova’ could see Ireland lose out Richard Curran, September 12 2019
The tens of billions in intellectual property that has moved to Irish registered companies is not creating commensurate jobs yet forms some of the basis for our surging corporate tax take.
Surely it should have been used to fund a standalone rainy day fund or pay for genuine once-off investments like broadband or the National Children’s Hospital.

The radical movements of the “long 1968” shook the postwar order from Prague to Paris, Derry to Mexico City, Rome to San Francisco. “Voices of 1968” (Pluto) lets those movements speak in their own words – posters, flyers, graffiti, manifestos, songs, underground texts and more.

I’ll be reading from some of the texts in the book with a slideshow in the background – revolutions produce some cracking writers, speakers and graphic artists!

As President Higgins urges Improvement in Defence Forces Pay and conditions, Minister For Defence and Taoiseach must not be allowed to use BREXIT to delay increases https://wp.me/pKzXa-1kf
Pay, Pensions, Allowances, Conditions of Service Must Be Fully Restored IMMEDIATELY

Quora.com Did humans evolve from a rodent type of creature, just like a mouse or rat during the dinosaur age?
Paddy Healy: Physicist and Academic https://wp.me/pKzXa-1l8
Some Yes, and their evolution was very limited, retaining key characteristics. DNA tests will verify.
Some no!

As Members of Defence Forces leave in droves due to appalling pay and conditions and existing vessels are tied due to lack of staff:
Confirmed by Taoiseach Who is Also Minister for Defence in Dáil: Construction of Multi-Role Vessel for use at home AND ABROAD has been put Out to Tender https://wp.me/pKzXa-1kf
“The 200 million Euro MRV ship could easily accommodate a whole infantry company and all its equipment, who could be launched onshore by landing craft. The ship would also have the capability to launch helicopters from its flight deck”.-Irish Examiner October, 2017

“The 200 million Euro MRV ship could easily accommodate a whole infantry company and all its equipment, who could be launched onshore by landing craft. The ship would also have the capability to launch helicopters from its flight deck”

President and Supreme Commander Criticised on Pay For Defence Forces by Government Ministers-Irish Examiner today
Mr Higgins’s comments on Wednesday night caused widespread surprise, anger, and bemusement in Government circles yesterday over what was seen as “interference” in political matters.
Full Article https://wp.me/pKzXa-1kf
“Of course they were deeply unhelpful,” one senior minister said. “We are trying to hold a public pay deal together with sticky tape and Blu-Tack. This will only heighten the pressure on us to loosen the purse strings even further.”(That is what they said to the Nurses before They took Strike Action-PH)
As Fine Gael ministers, TDs, senators, and MEPs gathered in Garryvoe, east Cork, for their party’s think-in ahead of the Dáil’s return, Mr Higgins’s comments were widely commented upon.

“The private prison industry is set to be upended after California lawmakers passed a bill on Wednesday banning the facilities from operating in the state. The move will probably also close down four large immigration detention facilities that can hold up to 4,500 people at a time.
The legislation is being hailed as a major victory for criminal justice reform because it removes the profit motive from incarceration.”https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/sep/12/california-private-prison-ban-immigration-ice

“Calling the federal government’s close ties with for-profit prison operators “corruption,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren released her plan to ban private prisons should she win the presidency in 2020….
Warren pointed to former White House Chief of Staff John Kelly’s new role as a member of the board at Caliburn International, whose subsidiary operates the largest detention center for unaccompanied migrant children, as one example of the corruption deeply embedded in the operation of for-profit prisons and the need to shut them down.”https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/06/21/slamming-corruption-has-allowed-rampant-abuse-warren-releases-plan-ban-private

“Renaissance Technologies, Wellington Management Group and 24 other funds hold over $4 billion in stock in General Dynamics, GEO Group and CoreCivic—three firms making money off the Trump administration’s policies at the southern border.

“As of 2017, GEO Group shares are mainly held by institutional investors (The Vanguard Group, BlackRock, Cohen and Steers, and others). In 2015, the GEO Group’s contracts with the U.S. federal government for operating prisons generated about 45% of its revenues.”https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GEO_Group

Minister Murphy Spoofs Selective and Misleading Statistics
But Rise in Nett Number of Children in Homelessness in July 2019 Was 103
General Strike Needed on Housing https://wp.me/pKzXa-Rd
More than 10,000 still Homeless John Kilraine, RTE 2 Sep
The latest homeless figures have increased for the first time in two months, with the increase being directly attributed to a rise in the number of homeless children.
103 more children were listed as homeless in July.
The figures show there are now 10,275 adults and children in emergency accommodation despite “recategorisations” by Minister to artificially reduce numbers.

Colm McCarthy, Sunday Independent: “This Lucky Period Will Come to an End!! Things have been going very well indeed – 2020 will mark seven straight years of strong economic recovery in Ireland.” https://wp.me/pKzXa-ua
History teaches that this lucky period will come to an end, and last Thursday’s decisions from the ECB should be interpreted as a warning. If it is not Brexit, it will be something else – troubles in Italy, Trump’s trade wars, an international attack on alleged havens for corporate tax avoidance – take your pick.
But McCarthy,As Usual, Advocates Continued Austerity not Taxing The Super-Rich
Colm McCarthy: ‘We cannot blame Brexit alone for the pressing need to balance our books’ Colm McCarthy, September 15 2019

Brexit Clouding The Big Dangers: Warnings Now Coming Thick And Fast: The Jig is Up on These Corporate Tax Billions for Ireland as Unfavourable OECD decision is imminent-Irish Independent
Richard Curran: ‘Time is almost up for corporate tax windfalls we grew to bank on’ https://wp.me/pKzXa-18R
Disaster: Corporation tax has generated huge revenues but an abrupt ‘supernova’ could see Ireland lose out Richard Curran, September 12 2019
The tens of billions in intellectual property that has moved to Irish registered companies is not creating commensurate jobs yet forms some of the basis for our surging corporate tax take.
Surely it should have been used to fund a standalone rainy day fund or pay for genuine once-off investments like broadband or the National Children’s Hospital.

Brexit Clouding The Big Dangers:Warnings Now Coming Thick and Fast: Trade wars ‘risk a global slump’
Threats: Joachim Lang , Head of the BDI(German Industry Federation) warned of a potential global recession
David Chance (Former Reuters Economics Editor for the Americas, overseeing coverage of the Federal Reserve as it managed the post-crisis recovery, the US economy and President Trump’s trade wars.) September 7 2019 https://wp.me/pKzXa-ua
The head of Germany’s powerful industry association lashed out at Brexit and trade protectionism in the US and China in a Dublin speech yesterday, saying they risked tipping the world into recession.
The speech by Joachim Lang came hard on the heels of data that showed German manufacturing output had fallen by 0.6pc in July from June, largely thanks to a collapse in car production, which is 20pc below its 2017 peak.
“The conventional assumption of a return to higher dynamism next year assumes away Trump, Johnson, Xi Jinping and other risks,” Dr Lang, the director-general of the Federation of German Industries (BDI), said.
“In fact, Europe will find itself in recession next year if a hard Brexit takes place, and in a slow-growth situation if it can be avoided,” he told the Institute of International and European Affairs.

Huge Reverse for Saudi Arabia and its US and British Allies as Yemeni Houthis Backed by Iran Take Out 50% of Saudi Oil Processing Facilities with Drones
There Will Be a Third World War Unless the Far Right is defeated by Mass Action https://wp.me/pKzXa-1p2
Just Published :Article From Jerry Barmash for Daily Mail PUBLISHED: 15 September 2019
U.S. is ‘ready’ to deploy its oil reserves to stop disruptions to global markets after drone attack suspends operations at Saudi Arabian processing facility
Drone strikes from Yemen rebels hits oil supply in Saudi Arabia
Half of Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities were destroyed by attack
Yemen’s Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, take responsibility for drone blasts
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accuses Iran of ‘launching unprecedented attack on the world’s energy supply’
President Trump said the United States ‘strongly condemns attack critical energy infrastructure
Saudi-led coalition has been fighting the rebels since 2015
The United States Energy Department said it is set to use resources from the Strategic Petroleum Oil Reserves, ‘if necessary, to offset any disruptions to oil markets,’ in the wake of a drone attack in Saudi Arabia on the world’s largest oil processing facility.
(Trump has withdrawn from Iranian Nuclear Deal and Re-Imposed sanctions on Iran and Iranian Oil)

“Boris Johnson will tell the outgoing European commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker, on Monday that he will defy a new act of parliament and refuse to discuss or accept any offer to extend the UK’s membership even if a Brexit deal cannot be agreed, Downing Street said last night.
The prime minister’s hardline message to Brussels that he will take the UK out of the EU on 31 October, come what may, will enrage MPs from all parties who joined forces last week to force through a new law mandating him to ask the EU to prolong UK membership from the current deadline of 31 October until 31 January next year, to avoid a no-deal outcome.”https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/sep/15/johnson-to-defy-benn-bill-quit-31-october-come-what-may

Johnson is prepared to take the autocratic approach and ignore parliamentary sovereignty.

EU leaders will not Allow Boris Johnson to Indefinitely Disrupt the EU on Behalf of Trump
Luxembourg Prime Minister Bettel After Meeting Boris Johnson Repeats the Recent Statement of the French Foreign Minister -“The EU Will Not Grant Another Extension to the UK JUST FOR THE SAKE OF IT.”
Bettel says his priority is to protect the single market and
the EU needs firm proposals. https://wp.me/pKzXa-Vu
He says the EU will not grant UK another extension just for the sake of it.
The UK has always been a close friend of Luxembourg’s, he says. But people need clarity and certainty. You cannot hold a country hostage for party political reasons.
Gesturing towards the empty podium, he says the clock is ticking. Johnson needs to use his time wisely.

I wondered what Edward Snowden was up to and then I came across this book review:

‘Permanent Record seems to have been written reluctantly: a memoir by a celebrity dissident dedicated to the cause of digital privacy. There were surely market incentives for the book to take the form it has: publishers prefer personal revelations to manifestos. But for all the storytelling it is a manifesto all the same.

…

Snowden still faces three felony charges, two of them under the Espionage Act, under which the government can withhold public presentation of the evidence against the defendant by claiming the interests of national security. Obama declined to pardon him. In the wake of Russiagate, it’s common to hear people, even left-leaning journalists, speculate that Snowden has been a Russian agent all along, especially now that the US intelligence services have rebranded themselves as the strongest institutional branch of the #Resistance to the current president. Meanwhile the government’s machines of repression, those carefully cooled datacentres, hum along in Maryland, Utah and Hawaii.’

But the populists who had come to power in Poland’s elections two years earlier found this unbearable, preferring to promote a version of events that would airbrush real history and glorify the nation instead. Soon enough the minister of culture and national heritage, Piotr Gliński, dismissed the Gdańsk museum director, Paweł Machcewicz . A new director, Karol Nawrocki, was duly installed who set about altering the main exhibition – without consulting its authors. The revised approach was to tack closely to government guidelines giving emphasis to a glorification of Polish military actions and to cast Poland as a righteous nation: the museum would be a monument to national martyrology.

Nawrocki, for example, replaced a filmed summary of civilians’ experiences in the war with another film altogether, in which the soundtrack includes claims that can only be described as propaganda, with phrases such as: “we saved Jews”; “we give life in the name of dignity and freedom”; “we were betrayed”; “the pope gave hope of victory”; “communists lose”; “we won” and “we do not beg for freedom, we fight for it”.

Yep. I was in Gdansk with the young lad for the ‘football’ in 2012 (?). Really lovely place. Really enjoyed it. Got a tour of the shipyard and a John Paul 2 commemorative medal. Stayed in a tent by the beach. The decorations in the beachside bar was fishing nets filled with rusted WW2 bits and pieces.
Got a green and white Lechia Gdansk scarf. Wore it getting off the train in Poznan to be promptly warned by a local that I’d be putting myself in danger there if I kept it on – ‘they are our enemies’.
Must go back some day.

At first glance, this trend may seem ironic: Many on the far right dismiss the science behind climate change. Some see political efforts to confront it as a globalist conspiracy.

But a strain of white nationalist thinking has seized on the dire warnings from experts of what could be in store as climate change advances: Swaths of the world could become uninhabitable, resulting in mass migrations to relatively hospitable climes.

The OP is wrong, however. The ‘dismissal’ of the science of AGW is nothing to do with not fundamentally believing it (they wouldn’t be trying to undermine the scientists in every way but peer-reviewed argumentation) but in refusing to do anything positive to stop or lessen it which might interefere with an outrageously consumptive and wasterful lifestyle.

Fintan O’Toole: Ireland’s Apple appeal is a disastrous miscalculation https://wp.me/pKzXa-18R
We are fighting in the last ditch to defend the indefensible. We are hoisting our Tricolour alongside the skull-and-crossbones of global tax piracy.
Last week we learned from the International Monetary Fund that nearly two-thirds of Ireland’s much-trumpeted foreign direct investment, amounting to $500 billion, is “phantom”, which is to say it is merely money moving through shell companies to avoid taxation (and is not involved in job creation in Ireland-PH).
Fintan O’Toole, Irish Times,Tuesday, September 17, 2019,at link above

“Comet C/2019 Q4 was discovered on August 30, 2019 by G. Borisov observing from the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory, when the object was nearly three AU from the sun. The discovery was announced by the Minor Planet Center on September 11, 2019, stating that C/2019 Q4 is following a clearly hyperbolic path and that it is approaching the sun at high speed. The comet will be closest to the sun, at two AU, early in December, and then it will head for interstellar space, leaving the solar system, never to return. This is only the second confirmed interstellar visitor after interstellar object 1I/2017~U1 (“Oumuamua), discovered two years ago.”https://phys.org/news/2019-09-visible-spectrum-c2019-q4-borisov.html

Guardian.com: Saudi Arabia won’t attack Iran. But it may pay someone else to. Nesrine Malik
While Nesrine Malik’s report (key passage at link below) is accurate and welcome, his contention that Saudi use of troops from other Sunni Muslim countries generally, and particularly in Yemen, is being done without the knowledge of a “gullible” USA which is being “fooled” by Saudi leaders, is ludicrous. https://wp.me/pKzXa-Ut

Saudi Military activities in the Middle East are being powerfully supported by USA, by every method imaginable including use of the Shannon Airport stopover. It is certain that the USA with its military surveillance systems and intelligence agents and spies everywhere is the best informed power in the region and is pulling all the strings

Every apparently local conflict in the Middle East must be understood in the context of geo-political and military rivalry between big powers-USA, Russia, Iran, France-through their respective surrogate states and ethnic groups in the region

Profit Before All Else is Unsustainable-Capitalism is now its Own Worst Enemy
Irish Examiner Editorial, Tuesday, September 24, We are lucky we don’t live in America, the richest superpower in history.
There, a broken healthcare system and price-gouging is putting many of its 23m diabetes patients at risk of death or bankruptcy. https://wp.me/pKzXa-KR
Those who cannot afford the hundreds of dollars to buy insulin each month are sacrificed to the gods of the market. If this seems incomprehensible it is because it is. It is also immoral. But our report today that standards in school food, here in Ireland, may have been compromised to bolster caterers’ profits is another example of doing the wrong thing for the wrong reasons.